updated 10:10 am EDT, Mon April 20, 2009

NVIDIA Quadro FX 4800 Mac

NVIDIA this morning remedied the absence of a pro video card for the new Mac Pro by launching the Quadro FX 4800 for Mac. Very similar to the Windows version, the Apple-friendly model has 192 graphics cores and a large 1.5GB of onboard memory that helps it antialias 3D visuals even with high detail or at high resolution. Unique to the Mac version is native support both for the expected Mac side as well as Windows when in Boot Camp.

It continues to support CUDA for accelerating general-purpose computing tasks and has twin dual-link DVI connectors to handle a pair of 30-inch displays; an extra 3-pin connector generates stereoscopic images for modeling apps that need 3D glasses.

In a rare step for NVIDIA cards for Macs, the Quadro FX 4800 will be available not only through Apple's online store but also through resellers and in third-party manufactured cards from Elsa, Leadtek and PNY. The card will sell for $1,800 when it ships in May.